Boats set for Oxford-Cambridge race

Great Britain’s historical Oxford University versus Cambridge University Boat Race is just three weeks away and with the traditional laying down the gauntlet, the crews were announced for the 7 April race.

Cambridge are the overall leaders of the 178-year-old event but after losing the last two years they have pulled out all stops to reverse the recent trend.

Steeped in tradition Cambridge team president Tom James, representing last year’s losers, presented the official challenge to Oxford at the official crew naming on the shores of England’s River Thames.

Current speculation gives Cambridge the winning edge with a more experienced crew including reigning World Champions from the German eight, Thorsten Engelmann and Sebastian Schulte. The crew also includes returning members Olympic Champion Kieran West (GBR) and British national team member James.

Oxford contains only one returning member, team president Robin Ejsmond-Frey whose international experience include junior and under 23 racing. He will be joined by a mixture of nationalities including Croatian national team member Ante Kusurin, first ever Polish Boat Race representative Michal Poltkowiak as well as Americans Brodie Buckland and Adam Kosmicki.

Apart from an expected 250,000 spectators along the four and a quarter mile course, the race will be broadcast live on British television (ITV Sport) and, for the first time, the United States will be showing the race live on the university sports channel, ESPNU.

Starting in 1829 the annual boat race will take place again on 7 April at 4:30pm (GMT).

Crew Lists

Cambridge

Kristopher McDaniel
Dan O’Shaughnessy
Peter Champion
Jacob Cornelius
Tom James
Kieran West
Sebastian Schulte
Thorsten Engelmann
Russell Glenn

Oxford

Michal Plotkowiak
Adam Kosmicki
Andrew Wright
Magnus Fleming
Robin Ejsmond-Frey
Brodie Buckland
Terence Kookyer
Ante Kusurin
Nicholas Brodie